Have a great trip!

Safe travels! Driver gets to pick the tunes!

Enjoy your vacation time!

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

We need you!

Ah, Montreal. I had a great time when I went to the U20 World Cup last year. La Paryse snack bar has some tasty food.

Enjoy! Looking forward to Berman & Tenorio's reports.

You deserve a blog-free holiday. Here's hoping that all of your vacation is good and none of it is bad or coyote ugly.

I just broke out in a cold sweat. And here come the shakes...

Please tell me you're joking...

;-)

I went to Burlington for a weekend a few years ago -- really nice town.

We know you are really heading to the Free Kick Competition in Houston.

Vacation? Haven't you read the fine print in your contract? The Soccer Insider never vacates! Never sleeps, either.

Calling the pharmacy now...

Steve, a few recommended tunes for the road:

"Spirit of Radio" - Rush (duh)
"Gator Country" - Molly Hatchet (duh, again)
"Three Strange Days" - School of Fish
"5150" - Van Halen
"Early Morning Rain" - Gordon Lightfoot
"Love Removal Machine" - The Cult
"Where the Streets Have No Name" - U2
"Plain Jane" - Sammy Hagar

Remember: no rap (in any form) and no Duffy.

Safe trip!

Goff, I just checked with my attorney and he said that the restaining order does not apply to those areas you showed, so be seein' there and you better have some fresh posts ready for my consumption or else...

Just kidding. Have a safe trip and enjoy your break. Come back fresh and just in time to help those of us whose withdrawal will be so cirtical as to be bordering on the edge of catastrophic. I mean what is the Insider without an Insider Nation?

Ahh, Vermont! I've been there; you should check out my factory, it's ice creamlicious.

Have a great trip. With all the work you do for us soccer news freak you deserve a break. Enjoy!! Montreal is a great place...they had some great night clubs...but I doubt you would want to take your family to those.

FYI, Luciano Emilio made it into Sports Illustrated's latest print edition. He's featured in "The Pop Culture Grid." (It's a little fun/cheeky question and answer with various atheletes). Here are the questions and Emilio's answers.

_______ should play me on the big screen?

Emilio: Denzel Washington

Favorite thing to chew?

Emilio: Rib-eye steak

_______ should be added to the dictionary

Emilio: Golazo!

Song I'd loe to sing karaoke to?

Emilio: "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt

I secretly have a crush on?

Emilio: Whitney Houston from "The Bodyguard"

Oh man, James Blunt? C'mon Emilio. C'mon DCU lockerroom. They gotta expose this guy to better tunes. James Blunt?!?!

(shakes head in disbelief)

Have a nice vacation. Does anyone know if Brian McBride will sign with Chicago before Tuesday's game?

Enjoy the must deserved R&R Goff.

for montréal, you need some montréal music for the road... i'd recommend wolf parade and arcade fire, of course. for francophone music, les breastfeeders, mes aieux, les cowboys fringants, and alligator trio are must-listens. for something a bit on the pop side of things, stefie shock is quite good.

for beers, drink plenty of unibroue. les brasseurs du nord are excellent, as is mcauslan.

and for soccer, hope you can catch a game at stade saputo!

enjoy... i love montréal!

Burlington and Montreal . . . sounds great.

Make sure to stop by the Magic Hat brewery.
Then there's kayaking on Lake Champlain to the islands.

Bon voyage, Monsieur Goff!

Lake Champlain chocolates, too...try the mole'.

Fine. Leave us. See if I ever talk to you again.

Enjoy your well-deserved vacation.

I think Goff will be the one going through withdrawals. He won't know what to do with himself without random people running up to him and asking him if DC is going to sign Riquelme or some other stupid question. :)

Bring me some Cuban cigars?

Seriously, have fun.

ITALY NAMES SOCCER AZZURRINI: Coach Pierluigi Casiraghi named Italy's Olympic soccer squad on Wednesday, perhaps the most universally and closely heeded team announcement every quadrennium (never mind what happened to Italy against Zambia in 1988).
Of great interest to Americans on this edition of the Little Blues: the presence of Villareal striker and Clifton, N.J., native Giuseppe Rossi. Rossi has joint Italian-U.S. citizenship and is eligible to play for either country, but he's talented and accomplished enough to have chosen Italy.

That's news?

Have a safe trip. Quick question though: will you be on call? Just in case DC signs a major un-named player? :)

Goff. I took the wife up to my McGill alma mater a few months ago. A few places to hit in Montreal: Au Pied du Cochon (fois gras poutine), Le Cheval Blanc (awesome microbrew), walking up Mont Royal. Try to get up to Quebec City also -- a quaint beautiful city with very friendly people and awesome food. At least give speaking French a try, they will love you for it. Have a great time.

Rossi has joint Italian-U.S. citizenship and is eligible to play for either country, but he's talented and accomplished enough to have chosen Italy.

Posted by: mizage | July 3, 2008 1:50 PM
-------------------------------------------

That should read Rossi "was" eligible to play for either country. From what I've read, his decision became inalterable with his 21st birthday earlier this year, even though he hasn't played for the Italian senior side. I still tear up every time I think of Altidore and Rossi teaming up front....And, I don't mean with Villareal.

VillaRReal

perhaps the most universally and closely heeded team announcement every quadrennium (never mind what happened to Italy against Zambia in 1988).

Posted by: mizage | July 3, 2008 1:50 PM
-----------------------------------------

Also, apropos of the discussion in the other thread about the IOC/FIFA rivalry, I'm pretty sure that the publishing of Italy's Olypmic side is not "the most universally and closely heeded team announcement every quadrennium". I'm pretty sure it's a blip, when compared even with the roster announcements for Italy's World Cup qualifiers, much less announcements of Italy's World Cup and Euro rosters.

I gues you mean that it gets a little more attention than other nations' Olympic rosters?

Villarreal. Sorry. I don't have a spell-checker when I go through Internet Explorer.

Goff, you should go to Stade Saputo if you're in Montreal on a game date. I'm gonna be taking a trip up to Watertown NY late next week to help out on a project up there, and I saw that the Impact are playing a few games when I may be a couple hours away: 7/6, 7/13, and 7/18. Don't know if I'll be able to get away for that long on a working trip, but I hear good things about that stadium and about the local fans.

Of course, if you want a break from the beautiful game, I understand. I'm taking my break from the beautiful game simply by being an RBNY fan.

No problem -- you were just the second one to do it (and I just figured out a few months ago myself).

And you would need a Spanish pronoun spell checker to catch that ;)

Steve,

Enjoy the time off. Do watch out for stalkers since you've given everyone your approximate location. ;)

Tell everyone in Vermont and Canada we said "hello".

@ RK

I was the first. I remeber a few threads back whe you gave me that verbal lashing about the RR in VillaRReal. :)

The memory has been permanently branded on my brain, right by the permanent scarring of all those lessons "taught" to me by my corporal punishing primary and secondary school teachers. You're in good company, RK :)

Tell my Arnt Bessie up in Vuhmawnt I had no idear she was closing her gararge.

Enjoy the north. Vermont is a great place.
They have Longtrail up there. It is by far my favorite american brew. give it a shot if you care to, but stick with the Ale as the Double Bag is kinda tough on the innards.

I won't suggest places to visit in Montreal...Mrs. Insider wouldn't approve.

I'm very jealous. enjoy the well-deserved break.

Cue William Shatner voice:

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOFFF!!!!

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOFFF!!!!

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOFFF!!!!

Good choice of destinations...even the drive between them is beautiful.

Song I'd love to sing karaoke to?
Emilio: "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt

Posted by: Chief Clancy Wiggum | July 3, 2008 1:08 PM
+++++++++++++++++++++++

I was going to post the video from last season of him singing the song, but it seems like bobbyboswell.com is down (or my office is now blocking it)

Wonder what percentage of the words he would get right if he sang it today.

Marca "reporting" Arshavin to Chelsea for (only!) 12 million pounds.

So Goff, when does the Post go to the 4th official to officially sub in Paul Tenorio to the Insider? I am already hurtin' for a new thread. I get the feeling that it will help sooth this phantom itch and general restlessness I am starting to experience.

bonnes vacances

Have an awesome vacation Goff!
Everyone, and I mean everyone could use a little rap once in awhile.
You just gotta know what to listen to.
Murs has a great album called 3:16 the 9th edition that is a classic. There are no curse words on it either.:-0
Another fun one for the kids is Danger Mouse and MF Doom collabo, and Dooms MMMMFoood album is great listening for gastronomic adventurers.
Rocket from the Crypt has tons of great road tunes for the rock and rollers out there.

Chel$ki's attempts to destroy compettitive football aside, does Arshavin's style fit well into Big Phil's tactics? I'm curious. Happy for Arshavin because he'll be making bank. OTOH not happy that he's going to The Bridge. I just hope he does not become SWP 2.0.

Not happy that Arshavin isn't going to Barca...12 mil pounds seems like one heck of a deal. Maybe the Russian oil connection got them a discount.

Can't wait for that Houston/RSL match tonight! I'm sure Houston will be well-rested and ready to go.

Does anyone know if a live video feed of the DCU/Chicago game on Tuesday night could develop? Or will those interested just need to bite the bullet and try to make it up there?
Will the admission again be $25?
Thanks

NO. DON'T GO. can't you vacation off season?

who will tell us about the MLS all star lineup and who stuffed the ballot box and such.

plase dont go dont goooooooo dont go away hey hey hey

please dont go dont goooooo dont go away i want you to stay!!!!

just a lil tune!!!!

NO. DON'T GO. can't you vacation off season?
==========================================

There is no such thing where football is concerned.

Arshavin's good, but not that good. He was owned against Spain. My money is on him being a marginal improvement for Chelsea, if any improvement at all. Deco, on the other hand...

The first brewpub I remember visiting was in Magog, just across the border from Vermont, back in 1988, when there were very few brewpubs on the East Coast. The establishment there now is called Microbrasserie La Memphre, although I'm sure it had a different name back then.

Now I don't feel bad about vacationing at a place with no internet access!

Noooooooooooo!! But... but... but...

Aiight. I guess if you've worked your butt off, maintained professional standards in the face of some "competition" that is ... well... not professional... you deserve a vacation. THIS TIME!!!!

You've got the greatest blog out there. Relax. You deserve it!

I'm outta here. Happy Independence Day to all!

Amidst the burgers, beer, and fireworks, please remember why we have the day off tomorrow.

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_zoom_2.html

Amen, brother.

Have a good one, SI colleagues. And please remember to thank a veteran.

Villarreal. Sorry. I don't have a spell-checker when I go through Internet Explorer.

Posted by: FIsch Fry | July 3, 2008 2:15 PM
===========================================

Sometimes you're better off without that kind of "help":

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/01/AR2008070102523.html

Enjoy the vaca...relaxxxxx

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=AmA3F8Cvt2AtO4gdg3ONmoAmw7YF?slug=ap-eurofinal-ratings&prov=ap&type=lgns
---------------
How the hell the figure DCU v LA watched by 1.2 viewers? They can't count each and every person who watched the game. I never get this stats of vewership ratings. As for household counts it makes sense. Where is worldwide viewer stats though?

go to american flatbread company in burlington for some amazing pizza.

Have a great time, Goff.

Is anyone watching RSL vs Houston? This is pitiful. Bad camera work, bad announcing, weird ref. Rimando and Onstad look terrific, though.

Is anyone watching RSL vs Houston? This is pitiful. Bad camera work, bad announcing, weird ref.
==========================================

The new RSL SSS looks really neat. Let's hope they inhabit it ASAP. That's all I have to say about last night.

(walking through dark alley)
"anyone got any Goff, I just need a little fix to get me through....just a litle...that's all...really...I can quite anytime...)
(walks away with twitching hands)

@LD
That game last night (RSL V HOU) was everything that is wrong about soccer. I had a hard time watching it, I'm sure non-soccer fans tuned out. The feild is a disgrace, ref was incompetent and players acted accordingly, and the feild was a joke. Did I mention how bad the feild was? Pitiful.

Oh man, James Blunt? C'mon Emilio. C'mon DCU lockerroom. They gotta expose this guy to better tunes. James Blunt?!?!

(shakes head in disbelief)

Posted by: Chief Clancy Wiggum | July 3, 2008 1:08 PM

RSL plays on a terribly ugly field and exhibited some terribly ugly finishing.

Other than that they were OK.

I think Houston went over 60 minutes without a shot so it seemed inevitable they would get a late gamewinner once they finally got some chances in the last 10 minutes.

Most accurate reflection of last night's game was given by John Harkes:

"There's not a whole lot of soccer being played on the pitch."

It looked to me as if they were playing with a super ball. A few times it bounced at least 25 feet straight up.

But, they'll have a stadium with grass soon enough . . and before DC!

Not expecting anyone to check into this thread anymore (how the seconds linger when Goff has gone golfing!), but did anyone notice that DCU has a four-in-a-row for goals of the week? Dont know if that is a salute to United fans united in their voting effort or truly the best goals of the weeks, but with a scan of years past, it appears to be the first time a side has done that... another tally for the best in the MLS!

Not expecting anyone to check into this thread anymore...
=========================================

Au contraire! How else are we going to get into Guinness with the longest thread ever created?

Dont know if that is a salute to United fans united in their voting effort or truly the best goals of the weeks, but with a scan of years past, it appears to be the first time a side has done that... another tally for the best in the MLS!
Posted by: OnionBagged | July 4, 2008 12:35 PM
==========
Every goal from DCU is well derseved and sometimes we have more than one goal that are worth nominated but still. Like it or not DCU is the team that gives mouth watering and looks forward to watch them play whether you are a fan of DCU or not. On the other hand I hope not very many people voted for our guys to be played for MLS Star nonesense game. It is a dumb and potentially injure players for appearing to this event and hurt the team. That's why I have not even thought about voting any of our guys into this.

go to american flatbread company in burlington for some amazing pizza.

Posted by: pizzahead | July 3, 2008 9:25 PM
_____________________________________________

for some semi local amazing pizza visit Uncle Tuckers on i68 in Cumberland. They got some awesome micro brews too.

Not a lot, but a little DCU related blogging.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2008/07/rocco_mediate_and_domenic_medi.html

I attended the Real Maryland-Richmond Kickers match in Germantown today. Real Maryland could really use our support! They lost 3-0, and quite a few of the fans (there couldn't have been more than 500 of them, and it rained about half the match) were heckling the team. It must be tough to build a USL team from scratch. It was my first USL match.

Since the SoccerPlex is an intimate place, I definitely picked up some negative attitude from players who got subbed out (a couple got subbed out in the first half, refused to wear the blue pennies on the bench and then weren't on the bench to support their teammates the second half). So there's a team that could use our support!

I was entertained by being there and even found myself heckling a bit, though I try to use some humor and also heckled the other team and referee. Part of the entertainment was being able to understand the heckling in Spanish.

SG: Enjoy the deserved trip. We'll be here, foaming at the mouth for your return.

Dadryan:

The 9th Edition is full of curse words. Are you trying to trick our boy SG?

On Houston-RSL game:

I agree that it was a mostly poor game. The only time anything good happened was when Morales got the ball. Unfortunately for RSL, it appears Deuchar is only good at flick-ons and is useless at actually heading on goal (witness his header straight down into the turf with the goal at his mercy, as compared to his perfect flick-on to put Beckerman through in the 1st half). Houston looked like a bunch of guys that had never met before. I have no idea why ESPN thought it was a good idea to choose an RSL home game on national television.

I'm just now reviewing last night's results at the MLS site. Did anyone get to see any of these matches, on TV or otherwise?

I watched most of that Hou-RSL game -- I can't I was surprised at 0-0, given Houston had to be exhausted. They had a good bit of control in the first half, though, but couldn't connect at all w/ Ching and DeRosario (who was awful all night). Beckerman blew a wonderful opportunity and didn't even get a shot off, but I loved his work rate all night.

Ridiculous red card to end the night, too.

I didn't watch any of the games but did see some highlights today and noticed Buddle blew up three perfect opportunities to tie or win the game. If you can't put those balls and hit it straight to the keeper he obiously need to pratice a lot.

Chest Rockwell you are right man, I was thinking of Murray's Revenge...
It's a slippery slope trying to find Records in our collection that are even remotely appropriate these days...
Hope this wall of vinyl will keep for a while...

Colorado scored lots of goals, none by CG... No assists either. For shame.

USWNT 1-0 over Sweden at the half. I wouldn't mind being in Skelleftea, where the temperature is 55 degrees F.

A little off topic but the Tour Day France started today and it looks like VS coming correct with their coverage of the race after a couple crappy years.
Live coverage and enhanced coverage daily.
With American team Slipstream Chipotle leading the way in trying to clean up the sport and no prologue this year this edition should be exciting to watch.
if you're blood thirsty VS will be playing that angle for the entire tour, so tune in daily for the carnage!

It was nice to see a good crowd in Colorado for a change. They were treated to a home win with lots of goals for their side, so lets hope this is the beginning of something good for the colorado franchise.

There was also a good, telegenic game at LA with a big and vocal crowd.

Good for MLS, and good for soccer in this country.

I wish VS still had Golden League. ESPN is butchering that.

USWNT beat Sweden 1-0.

Shawn Mitchell and Bob Hunter think the Crew are up to something:

Mitchell's story needs to be read first: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2008/07/03/crew03.ART_ART_07-03-08_C1_NJALAR5.html?sid=101v

Then Hunter chimes in with this from his column:

"A Major League Soccer insider says the Crew's interest in forward Pat Noonan, a former New England standout who went to a Norwegian team, is merely a means to its real target -- Carlos Ruiz of the Los Angeles Galaxy.

"Coach Sigi Schmid knows Ruiz and has said the Crew is interested in him, especially now that the Galaxy appears willing to trade him. Ruiz has 81 career MLS goals but only one this season. He has become expendable with Landon Donovan and former Crew player Edson Buddle now doing most of the Galaxy's scoring.

"It's possible that the Crew doesn't have the kind of player the Galaxy wants for Ruiz, and that is why it's trying to work out a deal for Noonan, who reportedly wants to come back to MLS.

"Schmid said a deal for Noonan doesn't currently fit under "the league parameters," which means all this might be for naught. Noonan might stay in Norway and Ruiz might end up in Mexico, where some have him rumored to be going."

--

I think my Galaxy jersey is jinxed. I wore it last weekend while watching DCU's domination, and then again for part of last night...I take the thing off after finding out the Revs are up 2-0 and then Beckham scores. hmmmm...

Don't be afraid to support the team you like, SportzNutz21. Wear that jersey every matchday. Have you ever been to a Galaxy practice? You should go to one of those to show your support and see how things are done and have a better feel for what is going on with the team. Don't forget to wear your jersey when there too. Have you ever worn a Chicago jersey?

Have you ever worn a Chicago jersey?

Posted by: sitruc | July 5, 2008 3:12 PM

sitruc, send me a Blanco jersey when DCU faces them again in the playoffs and I'll be sure to wear it proudly. :)

Has it been a week yet? .................

It already feels like two, boda. :-(

Goal-scorer Carli Lloyd sportin' the Brian Kamler look.

And if I were to take one off of the back of some fool at the Soccerplex and give it to you on Tuesday, SportzNut21?

Sport's Illustrated Vault article on the NASL from 1984:

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1122044/1/index.htm

I had forgotten Kamler and was thinking more Rip Hamilton, but I suppose Kamler is close to home as well.

If we have to go into the SI Vault, I'd prefer a happier occasion, such as the first time a salt-and-pepper ball was ever seen on the cover:

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/cover/featured/8347/index.htm

Thanks, tri-village. I already had had this stuck in my head all week.

This thing called sportsillustrated is a garbage. There is nothing credible to read other than whole bunch of anti soccer dummies who is continuesly trying to hammer the game because they are thretened by it. Calling a soccer game slow is the first indication of how stupid these people are and trying to input cab driver's word into it because most are now aware of the smart game and only a few clueless old junkies wouldn't understand. It's a waste of time and energy to read or picking up this piece of s....

way to support the stinking enemy folks...
Sportsnut21 is a bum! Get a job!
wear a jersey! bum out! be a bum! yeah!
yeah. hey!
Murs rules the world...

Not only was that article from 1984, factcheck. It wasn't that bad.
I'd love to see what would happen if SI weren't as PC now and still had quotes like this:

When a cab-driver in Tulsa said recently that soccer to him is "a bunch of queers in short pants, a Communist game, too slow and boring," he may have been wrong on the first two counts but surely not on the third, at least not in North America .

Who reads dead tree sports drivel these days anyway?
Sports Illustrated is for Old Men.
This is no country for old men.
Red Dawn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What Dadryan means to say is Goff never writes drivel. He writes brilliant pieces and that is why we read dead tree articles.

Say what you want about SI, but any true soccer fan would have been appalled at
NASL---particularly the blue line for offsides at 35 yards!

And who can ignore these prophetic remarks . . .

""Julie Veee of the Sockers, for example, who would find it tough to hold a place on a European third-division side, recognizes that the simplistic indoor version suits his talents better than the grown-ups' game. "Tell the rest of the world to go on playing in the mud and rain," he says. "We'll get rich while staying clean. The future of American soccer is indoors."""

I need my fix. Why won't Daddy come home?

Thanks for translating,I shouldn't be allowed in the same room as this computer after a crabfeast...Excuse the last two posts.
Red Dawn?
Excuse the horse pile please.
Nice to see Chicago and Columbus could only share the points last night, and sweet free kick by Razov for the game winner.

"Soccer Goes American"

I had that SI cover picture and the one of Kyle Rote Jr's diving header on my wall for years.

I watched both games on FSC's doubleheader last night. Aside from wishing FSC had never contacted Todd Grisham, here are some thoughts:

- Columbus came out in their standard 4231, while Chicago switched to that same formation at halftime (moving Rolfe from FW to the right wing and pushing Thorrington inside). Why, then, was neither team able to do anything at all to slow the other down? The quality of defending in midfield by both teams was abysmal. Columbus, at least, managed to make Blanco less of a factor than usual. However, since the rest of Chicago's players were able to fly through midfield totally unimpeded, it didn't matter.

- Kelly Gray should have been sent off before 25 minutes were gone in the Chivas-San Jose game. He got the early booking, then committed an even worse foul on Nagamura a few minutes later, and continued on that path for the rest of the opening portion of the game. MLS referees need to learn that a player out of control can hurt someone just as well as retaliating players.

- SJ needs more than just strikers (and they do need more than one). They have no quality creator in midfield. O'Brien appears to be a spent force, Grabavoy is (despite Christopher Sullivan's constant endorsements of him) no better than an MLS sub, and Corrales, Guerrero, and the rest are two-way players, not playmakers. Barring spectacular moves in the transfer window, this Earthquakes team is going to be a fixture at the bottom of the MLS standings.

Now, onto the Ruiz/Noonan rumor: Columbus, in my opinion, could use Noonan more than Ruiz. Alejandro Moreno is a better compliment to Schelotto (doing all that extra running and pressing so Schelotto doesn't have to) than Ruiz, and Noonan would be an improvement on the right wing over Ekpo or (whenever he comes back from injury) Gaven, who are both inconsistent. Personally, I think LA should be looking at San Jose, who need forwards desperately and could be talked into giving up players that LA needs (a center back, or Guerrero at left midfield, for example).

Enjoy your vacation Senor Goff. It is well earned!

You should all know that there is only one "SI" that matters, and it is not Sports Illustrated. When does Mr. Tenorio's alarm clock go off this morning? I'm bored already.

In other news, if Chest Rockwell ever decides to write his own blog, I will read it.

c

Have a great vac-a Goffino! I'm not quite sure how I'll pass the time at work without the Insider... I think you need to start telling us in advance of your vacation plans so we all can plan ours at the same time and not have to go through withdrawl!

I also watched Crew / Fire on saturday... good game. Blanco's pass to Mapp was "sublime" to use a typical soccer adjective. Too bad Columbus couldn't complete the comeback and take all three points, I think they deserved it. I liked Robbie Rogers in this game as well. Will he be in the olympic team?

Also, credit to the c-bus fans for the "fans against racism" banner and huge reaction they showed as the crew tied the game and pressed for a winner. That was good stuff. I also heard a trumpet belting out a song known to me as "that song from tetris" during the game, which was nice.

Another other games to talk about? USL, PDL, Saturday pick-up?

[Sigh] Looks like I'm going to have to work today. If Tenorio doesn't get here quickly, he'll have an unruly mob on his hands.

Holidaaaaay....it would be so nice (sung in the voice of Adam Sandler)

This is terrible -- first Goff goes on vacation, and now Ives.

Morning folks.

Why don't we do our own Good Bad Coyote Ugly today?

Let's see...

THE GOOD
A tight race in the West, with only three points separating the top six sides.
The resurrection of DC United going into their July "break".
David Beckham tallying another strike, this time against New England.
A thoroughly enjoyable contest at Crew Stadium, ending up in a 2-2 tie.
The comeback efforts of Kansas City and FC Dallas in US Open Cup play.
Cuauhtemoc Blanco's participation in ESPN's "My Wish" series.

THE BAD
San Jose giving up a late game-winner at Chivas USA while continuing to miss the back of the net.
Houston wastes a USOC comeback effort, falling to Charleston on PKs.
The luck of my LA Galaxy jersey.

THE COYOTE UGLY
Red Bull New York. 'Nuff said.

Agree with you on Blanco's contribution to My Wish. He makes it harder to hate him.

I would move your jersey luck to THE GOOD :-)

Hope everyone had a great Independence Day! We skipped the rain-soaked fireworks and sat down to "Family Move Night" with the wife and kids: Toy Story, then Hostel.

In hindsight, I should have shown Toy Story last. Would have been easier for the 7-year-old to go to sleep...

Fun time had by all!

Coyote Ugly: Goff's on vacation, and we're not.

another Good

DCU's start in the U-17 Cup

DC vs Chicago tomorrow night (Tuesday) at the Soccer Plex in the US Open Cup semifinals.

Don't know whether the Best XI will start for either team but DC is fresh enough to do so. Chicago played Columbus a couple days ago. DC hasn't played since beating Rochester at plex last Tuesday and doesn't play again til Chivas de Waddle A Horror this Saturday at RFK in the Super Liga.

The GOOD
The luck of Sportznutz LA Galaxy jersey.

THE COYOTE UGLY
There won't be a DC United Goal of the Week Winner.

Used to livie up there. Wonderful country. Enjoy!!!!

Anybody got a Chicago Fire jersey I can borrow while listening to tomorrow's USOC matchup against DCU?

;)

I got one, but I used it to clean my car and from time to time I used to clean up my son's diapers. If you want it please call me at: 555-555-godc.

Goal.com reports that Ben Olsen is getting surgery on his ankle this afternoon and will be out two weeks. Apparently the surgey was planned before he played in the Galaxy match. New is confirmed by DC United's Doug Hicks:

http://www.goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=767104

Mr Goff,

Please comeback. I cannot stand the fact that this blog has not being updated. I am going to file a complain with the Washington Post.

Fanatico Indignado

I got one, but I used it to clean my car and from time to time I used to clean up my son's diapers. If you want it please call me at: 555-555-godc.

Posted by: Proud owner of Chicago Fire Jersey | July 7, 2008 1:18 PM
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I'm reporting you to child protective services for such abominable treatment of your son.

...and remember, the number to call is BR 549.

This can't be good for Poplar Point:

http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2008/06/30/daily38.html

Craig Stouffer at The Examiner also has the Olsen surgery story:

http://www.examiner.com/blogs-116-thepitch~y2008m7d7-Surgery-for-Olsen-Stratford

He also has Statford in surgery for a knee, and Gallardo, Quaranta, and Moreno unavailable for tomorrow night's match with standard muscle pulls.

The page with the first Olsen story included other Goal.com stories linked in the right column. One of which had the INCREDIBLY CLEVER HEADLINE: Much Adu About Nothing?

Apparently Monaco's front office has said they are going to sign an unidentified young American and the speculation centers around Freddy.

http://www.goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=762450

AS Monaco's honcho, Jerome de Bontin, played at Amherst (alongside the principality's honcho, Albert II) and lives in Chicago. I wouldn't be surprised to see more Yanks heading that way.

Tenorio has started an Olsen thread.

Thomas Wrongen will be in Texas on U20 business through Friday. He may or may not be back for Saturday's telecast. One member of his squad is Zarek Valentin, who presumably is related to Julian Valentin, the Wake Forest star from Gros/Olsen country who went to the Galaxy:

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_7340035.html

C'mon -- no Quaranta, Moreno or Gallardo available because of muscle pulls? How badly do they want to win the US Open Cup?

DCUMD-

Sometime down the road, I might. You'll know it by the clever name, the too-long posts, and artwork done in MS Paint by what appears to be a drunk 7 year old.

garbaggio-

I'd imagine, with a week's rest and 4 days until the Superliga opener, we'll be seeing close to our best XI. Fred will play on the right for Quaranta (with Burch at LM), Dyachenko will fill in for Gallardo, and I suppose Doe will get another shot up top. Those at the last game will not look on this news with confidence, but there are reasons to feel otherwise. Dyachenko usually does well against Chicago (last year: 1 goal and 2 assists in under 90 minutes of total play), and surely Doe can only get better than against Rochester (where he literally couldn't complete a pass to anyone over 5 yards away). Hopefully, we hit the ground running and don't let what should be a tired Fire team settle into any kind of rhythm.